Bill > H4841

This bill aims to increase accountability and transparency for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: - Requiring DCF to issue annual and quarterly reports providing detailed data and information on various aspects of its operations, including consumer demographics, placements, investigations, staffing, budgets, and services provided. - Establishing local and state-level child fatality review teams to study and make recommendations on preventing child fatalities and near-fatalities. - Providing foster parents with a "bill of rights" outlining their rights and DCF's responsibilities regarding information sharing, training, placements, payments, and more. - Enhancing notification requirements to attorneys when changes are made to a child's or young adult's placement or hospitalization. - Requiring DCF to conduct an internal review prior to reunifying a child with their family. The bill also makes various changes to existing laws and requires additional reporting from DCF, the Office of the Ombudsman, and school districts related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child welfare services and remote learning.

House Committee on Ways and Means (H), Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities (J)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4841